Stock-car.



2 HEEETS--SHEET l` PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

W. F. ELLIS.

STOCK GAR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 19, 1904.

l Httomegs IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII No MODEL.

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PATENTED DEO. 13, 1904.

W. F. ELLIS.

STOCK GAR.

AyPLoAToN FILED M1149. 1904.

2 SHEETB-SHBET 2.

No MODEL4 'nventor NN QM.

Hctomags UNITE STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

FATENT OEETCE.

WILLIAM F. ELLS, OF CRESTON. lOVVA, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-HALF TO WILLIAM M. CARPENTER, OF CORNING, IO'WA.

STOCK-CAR..

i :SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,614, dated December 13, 1904.

Application iiled March 19, 1904y Serial No. 198,950. (No model To all 1,071,077@ t ntfrfg/ aun/cern:

Be it known th at I, WILLIAM F. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Creston, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful stockar, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to stock-cars, and has for its object to produce novel and improved attachments whereby an ordinary single-deck stock-car may be quickly trans formed into a doubledcck stock-car.

With these and otherobjects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in oer tain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In tlie accompanying (flrawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designatf ing characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as varions changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacriiicing any of its advantages,n and the right is therefore reserved of making' all the changes and modifications which fairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claims made therefor.

1n the drawings thus employed, Figure l is a side elevation, partially in section, of a stock -car with the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view, in longitudinal section, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the deck-supporting mechanism. Figs. t, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views representing modifications in the construction of the swinging' floorsupports. Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the trip-latch mechanism for supporting the 'floorsupports outof action. Fig. 9 is adetail elevation illustratingl one of the checks or brackets for bracing the slat member which supports the upper deck or floor. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 10 l() of `Fig. 2.

' at intermediate points.

The stoek-car frame is of the usual construction, consisting of the vertical stanchions or side timbers 10, diagonal brace members 11, corner-posts 12, door-posts 13, and longitudinal spaced slats 1st, which, together with the floor 15 and roof` 16, complete the car-body.

The improved device consists of plates 17 for supporting the double deck and are disposed ifor lateral movement between the side timbers and longitudinal slats, whereby the same may be projected into the interior of the ear a suiiicient distance to alford ample support for a series of Jfloor-sections which when combined form an intermediate iioorto support hogs, sheep, and similar stock to be conveyed in two tiers or upon the two floors. The supporting' members 17 will preferably be steel plates of ample strength to support the load and conforming in length te the spaces between the doorway-openings and the ends of the car.

rl`he plates 17 will rest upon the longitudinal slat 111 which comes next below them, preferably near the vertical center of the car, and this belt of supporting-slats will preferably be of greater thickness and strength than the other slats to support the additional load which they are required to bear and will also preferably be strengthened at the cornerposts and door-posts by su pporting checks or brackets .18, and,if required,these supporting checks or brackets may likewise be employed The heavier slats 1&1, upon which the supporting-plates rest, may be further strengthened by L-iron strips 20, or the slat may be replaced bythe L or other shaped strips, if preferred, as in Fig. f1.

Means are provided for projecting the plates 17 into the interior of the car when required and withdrawing them when the double deck is not required, and an approved means for thus actuating' the plates is shown, consisting of rods or shafts 22, mounted for rotation transversely through the side timbers l0 and extending :from cach corner of the car inward along each side to the doorway-openings when employed upon cars having central doorways or otherwise disposed when employed upon cars having the doorWay-openings differently arranged. will be provided with operating-handles 23, preferably integral therewith. The plates 17 are notched to embrace the inner faces of the side timbers 10 and 11 and are attached rigidly to the rods 22, so that when the latter are rotated by their handles 23 the plates will be either protruded into the car and rest upon the enlarged slat 14 or be withdrawn beneath thel next slat above when not required, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 by dotted lines.

The intermediate floor or double deck 7 is formed in sections 24 for convenience in handling and will preferably be of plank of sufiicient thickness to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected and bound at the ends with L-iron 25 and resting by their ends upon the supports 17 when the latter are set in their horizontal positions. The central section of the intermediate floor will be wider than the other sections, so that it will extend toward the ends of the car from the doorposts 13 to cause it to engage the adjacent supporting-plates 17 and will likewise be extended outwardly between the door-posts to bring its ends flush with the exterior of the same, and thus avoid the formation of gaps at the doorway-openings opposite the double deck. The lower surface of the central section of the intermediate Hoor will be reinforced at the ends by metal plates 26, which extend the full width of the section, and upturned at their outer edges and adapted to rest upon the adjacent portions of the supporting-plates 17, and thus provide ample support for'the central section over the gap formed by the doorway-openings and requiring no additional supporting means.

Any number of the intermediate floor-sections may be employed; but generally seven will be used, one central or doorway section and three at each end of the car corresponding in width to cause them to completely fill the car when positioned therein and varying in width with cars of diii'erent lengths and with doorway-openings of different widths and differently located.

To fill the gaps otherwise left between the supports 17 and the next slat 14 above, lateral partitions or shut-off plates 27 will be attached to the supports 17, and at the points where the shut-ofi1 plates come next to the diagonal brace members 11 they will be cut in angular shape to correspond, so that when the supporting-plates and their attached partitions are disposed in projected position no gaps will occur into which the animals can thrust their feet. The shut-ou' plates also serve as means for supporting the ends of the floorsections and preventing lateral movement of the same.

Suitable catches will be provided for retaining the handles 23 when in their elevated position or when the supporting-plates 17 are withdrawn, so that they cannot be acciden- At their outer ends the rods 22 l tally thrown inward when the double deck is not in use, and an approved form of such a device is shown more clearlyT in Fig. 8, which represents an enlarged perspective View of the same. The handles 23 will each be formed with an offset, and at each corner of the car a slidingI stop-bolt 29 will be attached to a bracket 30, each bracket in turn attached to the car-frame. The sliding bolts when in their depressed positions extend into the path of the oifsets of the handles, and the latter are by that means held in their elevated positions, with the rods 22 and their attached supporting-plates in their withdrawn positions. By this simple means the plates will be supported in their withdrawn position or during the time the car is used as an ordinary single-deck stock-car or when hauling ordinary freight.

In Fig. 4 a slight modification is shown in the manner of forming the supporting-plate 17 and its attached shut-off plates 27, consisting in forming them of one single piece bent into proper shape and clamped upon the rods 22 by bolts or rivets, and in Fig. the plates 17, with the shut-off plates attached, are connected to the rods 19 by clips 31.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified means for operating' the supporting-plates 17 is shown, consisting in arranging the latter to slide horizon: tally in end guides 32, attached to the inner faces of the side timbers 10, and providing each plate with gear-racks 33 and each rod 22 with pinions 34 for engaging the racks. By this means it will be obvious that the rotation of the rods 22 will move the supportingplates and their attached shut-off plates inward and outward, as required, and produce precisely the same results as by the other operating means shown and accomplish precisely the same results.

Any suitable means may be employed for disposing of the intermediate Hoor-sections when not in use, as they may be lowered down upon the floor of the car and receive the next load, either of stock or freight, or they may be elevated toward the roof and suitably suspended therefrom or detached from the car and stored at suitable points for use when required.

lf required, the intermediate sections may be provided with bolts for securing them to the supports 17 when a more permanent connection with the car is required.

Angular bearing-blocks 35 will preferably be attached to the inner faces of the vertical side timbers 10 beneath the slats 14 next above the plates 17 to receive the latter when in their withdrawn positions to increase the bearing-V surface and protect the side timbers from abrasion therefrom.

If preferred, the shafts 22 might be carried f in hangers or brackets upon the side members 10 and corner and door posts, and when the device isapplied to steel-frame cars such means for supporting the shafts would be preferable;

TOO

but this modification would not aiiect the principle ot' the invention, as the same results would be secured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is" A l. An attachment for stock-cars consisting of supporting-plates havingI means ifor protruding the same into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or floor and for withdrawing them when said iioor is re moved.

2. An attachment for stock-cars consisting` of supporting-plates having means for protruding the same into the interior oi the car to support an intermediate deck or Hoor and for withdrawing them into the spaces within the framework when said itloor is removed.

3. An attachment for stock-cars consisting' oi" supporting-plates having means for protruding the same into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or iioor and for withdrawing them when said floor is removed, and means operative from the eXterior of the car for actuating the plates.

4. An attachment for stock-cars consisting of supporting-plates having' means for protruding the same into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or iioor and for withdrawing them when said floor is removed, rods having' means for rotative connection to the car, and connecting means between the plates and rods whereby the rotation of the rods will actuate lthe plates.

5. An attachment for stock-cars consisting of supporting-plates having means for pro truding the same into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or iioor and -for withdrawing' them when said fioor is removed, rods having means for rotative connection to the car, connecting means between the plates and rods whereby the rotation oi' the rods will actuate the plates, and means for detachabl y supporting said rods with the plates in their withdrawn position.

6. The combination with a stock-car, of snpporting-plates having' means for protruding the same into the interior of the car to support an intermediate detachable deck or floor and withdrawing them when the intermediate deck or Hoor is removed.

7. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates for protruding into the interior ot' the car to support an intermediate deck or iloor and for withdrawal into the spaces within the framework when the intermediate floor is removed.

8. The combination with a stock-car, oi' supporting-plates for protruding into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or iioor and for withdrawal into the spaces within the 'framework when the intermediate licor is removed, and means operative from the eX- terior of the car for actuating' the plates.

9. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates for protruding into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or Hoor and for withdrawal into the spaces within the framework when the intermediate lloor is removed, rods mounted for rotation upon the car, and connecting means between the plates and rods whereby the rotation oi the rods will actuate the plates.

l0. rl`he combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates for protruding into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or i'loor and for withdrawal into the spaces within the framework when the intermediate iloor is removed, rods mounted i'or rotation upon the car, connecting means between the plates and rods whereby the rotation ot the rods will actuate the plates, and locking means Afor sustaining said rods in their withdrawn position.

ll. The combination with a stock-car having as an element of its construction side walls formed of spaced longitudinal slats, of supporting-plates for protruding into the interior of the car and sustained when thus protruded by said slats, for supporting an intermediate deck or iioor, and for withdrawal when the intermediate deck or i'loor is withdrawn.

12. The combination with a stock-car having as an element of its construction side walls formed of spaced vertical stanchions and spaced longitudinal slats, oi su pporting-plates for protrusion into the interior of the car iior supportingl an intermediate deck or iioor, said snpporting-plates having' spaced recesses corresponding' to said spaced side members for engagement thereby to permit said plates to be withdrawn into the spaces within the framework when the intermediate deck-sc@` tions are removed.

13. The combination with a stock-car, oi supporting-plates having means for protruding the same into the interior oi the car and for withdrawing the same when not required, and an intermediate deck-section `for extension across the doorway-opening' and oi greater width than the same for siniporting upon said plates, said deck-section havingI lateral projections for extension into the doorway-openings.

14. The combination with a stock-an of supporting-plates having means Yfor protruding the same into the interior of the car and for withdrawing the same when not required, and an intermediate decksection for extension across the doorway-opening and of greater width than the same for supporting` upon said plates, said deck-section having lateral projections 'for extension into the doorway-openings, and reinforcing stay-plates extending beneath its ends and resting with the decksection upon said supporting-plates.

15. The combination with a stock-car, et' supporting-plates having means for protruding the same into the interior oi the car and withdrawing them when not required, and an IOO IIO

intermediate deck for support upon said plates when protruded formed of a plurality ot' detachable sections placed side by side throughout the interior of the ca r.

16. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates mounted to swing into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or iioor, and having means for withdrawing the plates when the deck or floor is removed.

17. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates mounted to swing into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or floor, and means for withdrawing the plates when the deck or floor is removed, and lateral shut-ofi1 plates carried by said supporting-plates to fill the gaps in the car through which the supporting-plates work when the supporting-plates are projected into the car.

18. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates mounted to swing into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or floor, means for withdrawing the plates when the deck or floor is removed, and lateral shut-olf plates-integral with the supporting-plates for filling the gaps in the sides of the car through which said supportingplates work when the supporting-plates are projected into the car.

19. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates for protruding into the interior of' the car to support an intermediate deck or iioor, means for withdrawing the plates into the spaces within the framework when the intermediate iioor is removed, rods mounted for rotation upon the car-frame, and means fo connecting the supporting-plates to the ro s.

20. The combination with a stock-car having as an element or' its construction side walls Jformed of spaced vertical stanchions and vertical stanchions and longitudinal slats forming its side walls, of movable supportingplates Jfor protrusion into the interior of the car and supported when thus protruded by said longitudinal slats, said plates for supporting intermediate deck or ioor sections, and reinforcing-chocks beneath said plate-supporting slats.

22. The combination with a stock-car, of supporting-plates for protruding into the interior of the car to support an intermediate deck or floor and for withdrawal into the spaces within the framework when the intermediate ioor is removed., rods mounted for rotation upon the car, connecting means between the plates and rods whereby the rotation of the rods will actuate the plates, said rods having cranks upon their free ends, and slidable bolts extending into the paths of said cranks to detachably engage the same to maintain said plates in withdrawn position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. ELLIS.

VVitn esses:

M. B. NEWMAN, W. H. LYON. 

